Step! Step! Step!
My footsteps echoed in the deathly silent cave tunnel as I walked.
Even though I couldn't see any more beast in front of me, I still didn't lower my guard. After all, I couldn't see any didn't mean there wasn't any.
As I neared the torchlit area, an uneasy feeling overcame me because I suddenly found this situation familiar to the ones I have read in some novels.
'Don't tell me, to leave this cave, I'll have to fight a boss monster after killing those minor ones?'
Just as this thought crossed my mind, the air around me changed. It became heavier, colder.
'Shit! I cursed myself.' I had the urge to slap myself.
Not far in the distance, the tunnel widened, opening into a massive cavern where faint moonlight from outside illuminated a massive figure.
Gulp!
I unconsciously gulped and steps slowed to a halt.
It was as I had feared—a boss monster was indeed guarding the cave exit.
I drew in a cold breath my gaze swept over it.
"…What the hell is that…" I muttered, my pupils constricting.
This boss monster shared similarities with the first type of beasts I had killed, but it also was different.
It was larger, much larger than them, easily twice my height even while crouched.
Its body was covered in thick, dark fur, layered like armor. Jagged bone-like spikes protruded from its shoulders and back, glinting faintly in the dim moon and torchlight.
Its limbs were thick, powerful.
Its sharp, black claws—longer than my entire forearm.
And its eyes… Just like earlier beasts, they were also red, but they burned with an intense glow.
When our eyes met, I felt my heart skip a beat, fear seizing my body.
This beast… It wasn't just powerful, it also seemed a bit human… intelligent.
Hurriedly suppressing my fear, I ordered the system to start the stream.
[Stream Starting…]
[Connecting to Audience…]
[Viewers: 9]
[Viewer 'BloodSpectator' has entered the stream.]
[Viewer 'SilentWatcher' has entered the stream.]
[Viewer '???:001' has entered the stream.]
[Viewer 'LaughingSkull' has entered the stream.]
[Viewer 'GoldenEye' has entered the stream.]
[Viewer 'AshenQueen' has entered the stream.]
[Viewer 'IronColossus' has entered the stream.]
[Viewer 'VoidDrifter' has entered the stream.]
[Viewer '???' has entered the stream.]
—
[Viewer 'GoldenEye': Cave Guardian.]
[Viewer 'BloodSpectator': Now, this should be entertaining.]
—
'…Cave Guardian.' I repeated in my mind and my grip on the stone tightened.
As I was gathering my wits in the tunnel, the beast suddenly rose to its full height and stepped forward.
'Damn. It's not following the rules.' I cried out inwardly as I had thought I would be safe as long as I didn't enter the cavern.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
It was so massive, so heavy that the ground trembled with each step and dust fell from the ceiling.
'I have to put on a good performance.' I thought, knowing my survival was in these nine viewers' hands. If they were entertained and gave me gifts, I would stand a chance to make out of this alive, otherwise…
Hu!
I took a deep breath and stepped into the cavern.
—
[Viewer 'BloodSpectator': Bet ends in 10 seconds.]
[Viewer 'LaughingSkull': I give him 20.]
—
"Tsk! Are you two stupid?" I clicked my tongue, speaking out loud, "I'm your champion. If I die, the endless exciting entertainment I potentially provide you would be lost."
Before they could reply, the Cave Guardian suddenly increased its speed, its muscles tensing in preparation to swat me to death, its indifferent eyes locked onto me.
The moment I saw its muscles tensing, I stomped hard on the ground and threw myself to the side.
BANG!
A split second later, the beast's large, clawed hand slammed into the place I had been at, crushing the hard stony ground into rubble and causing a minor earthquake.
—
[Viewer 'AshenQueen': Fragile.]
[Viewer 'IronColossus': Body integrity low.]
[Viewer 'VoidDrifter': Outcome's predictable.]
—
Grr!
The Cave Guardian turned its head around and looked at me, a hint of irritation flashing in its eyes as it withdrew its hand, stepped toward me and slammed its hand down again.
It happened so quickly that I had yet to balance myself after the hurried dodge earlier.
Ba-Dum!
My heart raced.
The next instant…
BOOM!
The ground exploded where I was.
Swoosh!
Fortunately, I managed to roll away from there in the nick of time, once again dodging it.
Ba-Dum! Ba-Dum!
My heart was beating so loudly that I thought it was going to burst the next moment.
'It's too fast!' I thought, 'And too powerful.'
My eyes shifted to the system screen.
Nothing.
No one was saying anything.
I knew my performance this time hadn't been good.
How could it be when there was such a massive gap between our strengths?
I wanted to plead, beg them to help me, but before I could open my mouth…
Thud!
The Cave Guardian bent down to slap at me once again. This time with much more force. My dodging two times in a row had angered it.
"Rahhh!" I roared, watching its palm descend, a frenzied look on my face.